Inexperienced WL softball taking patient approach

West Lafayette’s Maddie MacDonald, rigth, and Paige Hilleboe exchange a high five after the second Lafayette Jeff out in the bottom of the fourth inning Monday, April 23, 2018, in Lafayette. Jeff defeated West Lafayette 15-5.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE — Two months ago, Hannah Kidwell was at the top of her sport.

She stood on the starting block at the state swimming finals, representing West Lafayette’s 200-yard freestyle relay.

She knew her spring sport would not likely come with similar success.

But the Red Devil softball program remains optimistic that this will turn around.

On Tuesday night, West Side fell to Delphi, its 10th loss in as many games this season.

“Everyone put in a lot of effort in the practices before the season started and we still are,” Kidwell said. “We’ve improved a lot even though we aren’t winning.”

It can be tough.

Coach Chauncey Fry knew this going in.

Four starters from last year’s team for various reasons didn’t return this spring. It presented opportunity for younger players.

West Lafayette is starting four sophomores.

“Coaching an experienced team is very different from coaching an inexperienced team,” Fry said. “It isn’t better. It isn’t worse. It’s different and takes a lot of adjustments and personal growth as a coach.”

And patience.

The wins aren’t there and Fry approached the postgame pep talk after Tuesday’s 15-5 loss to Lafayette Jeff with a smile, remaining upbeat and positive.

Confidence is key and the Red Devils remain as upbeat as any winless team.

“We’re a really young team this year, and I think we’re improving so much every game,” said Abby Rhodes, one of two WL seniors. “Even though we are losing, we are getting better each game. We can see the wins in the future.”

That’s silver lining.

Right now, it’s not about the wins.

All 10 losses have been by at least six runs. But Fry believes this team shows a togetherness that hasn’t been so common in recent years. Daily, the practice drills are paying dividends.

Those are moral victories for such an inexperienced team.

“This year the morale of the team is so much more positive than it has been in the last year or two and I think that is contributing to our growth,” junior Grace Kirchner said. “Even though we aren’t getting the wins we want, we are able to see our defense getting better this game or our offense getting better this game, the errors are decreasing and the hits are increasing.”

With Rhodes and Alyssa Yeoman as the team’s only seniors, there isn’t a rush to demand perfection.

Most of this team will come back and next year the roster will have as much varsity experience as any.

“There is no doubt the inexperience we are seeing now will benefit us in the future,” Fry said. “The work these kids are putting in now, the reps they are getting, will lead to success. We are led by two great seniors, a talented junior class and a solid sophomore class. Throw in a few freshmen seeing innings and already we are competing for the future.”